NHL All-Star Game Pick & Preview

The 57thHockey bettingAll-Star game should have a lot of excitement surrounding it simply because of the venue in Montreal.There are not many places in the world where hockey is more important than in Montreal.The Montreal fans will have a lot to cheer about as many of the Canadiens made the Eastern Conference squad including goaltender Carey Price and forward Alexi Kovalev who was named team captain.San Jose’s Joe Thornton will captain the Western Conference team. “I’m shocked and excited,” said Thornton. “It’s a big honor to be named captain of an All-Star Team. Unbelievable. There are so many good players on the team. They must have picked me because I’m getting old.”

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Kovalev struggled to start the year for the Canadiens but has come on strong of late.“I came out this year and felt pretty good, so I felt like I could do a little bit extra. But it was time to go back and not try to do everything by yourself, and use your partners a little bit.” Kovalev said.Kovalev will be making his third All-Star appearance and he does not take making the team lightly. “This is the only way you know the reaction of the fans and the way they appreciate what you do on the ice,” Kovalev said. “It is always important.”

The Eastern Conference will be without superstar Sidney Crosby for the second straight year as Crosby was replaced on the roster by Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis.Crosby has been dealing with an injury to his left knee and he is still not at full strength.Crosby is second in the NHL in points behind teammate Evgeni Malkin.Crosby was the top vote getter this season and his vote total shattered the previous record held by Jaromir Jagr.

The Hockey betting Eastern Conference has won four of the last six All-Star games. They have scored an average of 7.33 goals per game while the Western Conference has averaged 6.5 goals per game.Last season the East outscored the West 8-7 as Eric Staal was named the MVP.The previous season the West won 12-9.There was no All-Star game in 2005 or 2006.The East won 6-4 in 2004 while the West won 6-5 in a shootout in 2003.